Pre-Regatta Rituals & Nerves...

Only 2 days until my first race of the season and the nerves are kicking in!

Last summer I did a couple of regattas in a double scull, each regatta with a different partner and with varying results. This time, however, I will be racing in a single. No one but me in the boat. I will be completely alone... It is a scary thought. Part of the experience of training in double was that camaraderie. You were in it together. You may not always agree about everything, and we had our issues, but we worked through them together. I may never race with those people again, but we developed a strong bond that we will have for life.

I am, by nature, a single sculler. I like the independence that it brings, but being nervous alone is a new experience. I am excited in equal measure, but it's not the same.

Brutal Manicure!

So! I have decided to focus on my pre-regatta rituals. Sculling is very hazardous for one's knuckles. It's very easy to scratch yourself when you draw the handles of the oars towards you at the end of a stroke. The right hand can be a bit zealous as it crosses over the left hand and, especially during a race, knuckles get scratched, there can be blood, and it's not good. As a result, my pre-race ritual includes cutting my finger nails right down and scrupulously filing away the sharp edges.

Yogalicious!

Because there are only 2 days until the race, I have drastically reduced the intensity of my workouts. I do not want to have any muscle fatigue on the day! No cardio or weights for now, just yoga. Sculling is all about balance and finesse, so yoga is great for both. I include yoga in my daily workouts anyway because it is the ultimate stretching and strengthening practice. No aching muscles for me! And it has the added benefits of calming and focusing the mind. Bonus!

Boat TLC

After taking care of my body, my boat is next in line. I will be cleaning that bad boy from top to bottom! The wheels, the runners, the inside and outside will get a thorough once-over. I'll do the usual safety checks, take her out for one last spin and then it's back on the rack until race day!

Let the games begin!

Circuits - Reborn! Just under 2 weeks until my 1st regatta of the season!

I am preparing for my first regatta of the season in 2 weeks, so I have stepped up my training schedule to match my ambitions.

After doing some searching online, I found these great circuits that have all the movements needed to strengthen my rowing muscles.

A couple of the moves in there are insane! But they have the desired effect. Check them out and let me know what you think.

I have gone back to doing yoga every day, which has kept the aching a bay, and I'm doing lots of racing starts and practice in my single scull.

The first circuit that I have incorporated into my workout is the 'Fast & Dirty' Circuit Workout (sounds good already right!) by Alex Silver Fagan (ASF). It is amazing! Nothing else has made me sweat this much in such a short space of time! I lost 1lb after just one session!

The circuit is just 6 exercises, and you do 3 to 4 circuits / sets:

1. Burpee with Side-to-Side Shuffle (8 reps)
2. Split Squat with Shoulder Press (8 reps on each side)
3. Decline Push-up with Cross Climber (8 reps)
4. Dumbbell Front Squat to Rotational Press (8 reps)
5. Renegade Row (8 reps on each side)
6. Overhead Reach with Toe-Tap Leg Extension (8 reps on each side)

The first time I did this circuit, I managed 2 sets, but the 3rd set almost killed me!

I did the circuit again two days later and I already felt so much stronger! The 3rd set was hard, yes, but it was righteous!

The 2nd circuit - Total Body Strength Workout for Women - is also from ASF. It's more of a dynamic workout, and requires no use of weights, but you can feel the burn!

The first time I tried it was in the afternoon of the same day that I tried the other circuit. I only did 2 sets of this more dynamic circuit, but that was followed by a yoga session.

1. Touchdown (1 minute)
2. Hip Escape (1 minute)
3. Hop to it (10 reps on each side)
4. Mountain Climber Mix-up! (1 minute)
5. Combo Deal - Front squat followed by split squat (10 reps on each side)

I did the circuit again two days later, straight after the other circuit. I followed that with 4K in my single scull to cool down out in the open on the river. It felt great to have measurable progress!